Latin America has seen 500 years of integration of the cultures of the native Indigenes (indigenous people), Spanish colonizers and African slaves. And Christmas season is one of the most beautiful times of the year to witness these traditions. The Christmas season is a time for the Latin American community to showcase their culture, customs and traditions.
In Brazil, the sea plays a special role during this time as Christmas is celebrated with the music of the waves. Countries like Bolivia and Ecuador celebrate with their traditional delightful music to give a sense of pleasure during this season. In Colombia, big cities like Bogotá, parks and city streets are illuminated with strikingly beautiful Christmas lights and decorations. In El Salvador and Nicaragua, people prepare their traditional food and at midnight, there is an awesome show of fireworks and estrellitas (little stars), which enhances the beauty of landscapes and beaches. Feasts and parties continue till midnight.
Families and friends get together for feasts and parties. Some families visit the Misa del Gallo, or "Roos...
The Latinos make up close to 16 percent of the total American population, thus becoming the 2nd largest ethnic community. Just like many other migrant populations, the Latinos seek to keep in touch with their Hispanic traditions and cultures. As Alvarez puts it, children born in the US are thus taught certain cultural events and values so as to maintain their lineage. The most common one as discussed by Alvarez in her book is the quinceañera. This refers to a girl’s celebration as she reaches fifteen. This day of celebration is supposed to mark a girl’s transition from being a child to an adult woman. Among other traditional symbols, these parties are huge and include choreographed dances and ball gowns.
Christmas is a holiday filled with tradition, family, and happiness, but what most people don’t know is that Christmas is celebrated all over the world, not just the United States. Latin American countries are especially passionate about Christmas. The way Hispanic people celebrate changes throughout each country. Each one has its own unique Christmas culture. In this essay I am going to write about some of these different countries, and tell how each one is similar and different in showing their Christmas spirit.
Christmas is a holiday celebrated by most of the world. Christianity is very popular in the US and Hispanic cultures. In the US, Christmas is celebrated with going to Church on Christmas Eve, spending time with their families, and many other things. People also reenact the nativity scene, sing Christmas carols, and do
School children also often get a chance to try their hands at creating basic Mexican cuisine. In some areas of the southwest, particularly in the city of Los Angeles, celebrations of regional Mexican dancing and music are held. However, regardless of the area of celebration, one could almost certainly find mariachi band filled restaurants, outdoor festivities, and social gatherings with large amounts of Dos Equis and Corona beer for the adults. Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a day that focuses on celebrating Mexican heritage and the Mexican way of life, but still pays homage to the battle that gave way to Mexico’s independence. Whether one is dancing in a large parade, or simply bonding with loved ones, it is important to always recognize the true purpose of Cinco de Mayo, and to remember and thank those who helped secure Mexico’s freedom so many years ago.
Another food is stuffed turkey and roasted stuffed pig. During Miranda(a event where a pig gets fried) a Christmas party in thrown with family, friends and neighbors. Also, families decorate Christmas trees. On Candle day, which is December 7th, candles are lit in window sills and and in streets to celebrate December. Most of these candles are red and blue. On the 16th of December families, neighbors and friends pray for 9 days. Santa does not exist in Colombia, instead Jesus gives them presents. A way that children hope to get presents is on the day before Christmas Eve, children write notes to baby Jesus and put these notes in the pesebre (nativity). These notes also can be called Carta Niño Dios. On Christmas, which is the 25th, they eat leftovers from Christmas Eve. On Christmas people in the U.S. eat ham, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, ham, stuffing and bread. In the U.S. people decorate Christmas trees with ornaments and lights. Families also hang stockings above fireplaces, bed posts, stair cases, window sills, door knobs and other places. Also, some children leave out cookies for Santa, they also write letters to him. It is believed that Santa Claus eats cookies that are left out for him, and he leaves presents under the Christmas trees for all the good boys and girls, and if you don’t be nice you get coal in your stocking instead of candy. Also, a tradition that started in 2005 is Elves
Las Posadas is a Mexican holiday that is like Christmas for the United States. It was originated in Spain and lasts for nine days. This holiday begins on December sixteenth and ends on December twenty-fourth. This is also a catholic holiday but most people in Mexico celebrate it. This holiday was thought to be started in the sixteenth century by “St. Ignatius of Loyola or Friar Pedro de Gant in Mexico.” In Mexico they have a tradition where they put a candle in a paper lampshade. Then they would take the lampshade with the candle inside it and went outside to sing a song, allowing Joseph and Mary to be recognized and allowed to enter the world. This is still a tradition today but one thing has changed from around when it was started. It, for some people, celebrated it in a church instead of the family’s home. There is a thing that is common for both the United Stated and Mexico. They both sing Christmas carols, they go along to houses or in a church and sing Christmas songs. On these days the children will break piñatas to get the candy and prizes inside. They also so another thing ...
Organizing one of these events is a very expensive and lengthy process. It takes a lot of time and dedication. There’s a lot to be incorporated in the huge event such as planning the ceremony, every decoration detail for the reception, all the traditions that must happen during the day, and most importantly to figure out who will be a part of this ritual. One of the most important customs in Latin America is the quinceaera. This tradition can date all the way back to 500 B.C. Not only that, but it’s been traced back to Aztec’s culture as well.
The Day of the Dead celebrates life past and present and not just death alone. Revelers construct ofrendas, the offerings of food, drinks, cigarettes, toys, and candy, set out for returning souls. Revelers take joy in honoring the dead, usually with music, dancing, crafts and food. The children have many activities also including the decoration of pan de muerto. Kids can also try to throw beanbags into a skeleton's mouth, make cascarones (confetti-filled eggshell wands), or create clay whistles, paper flowers, pinatas or masks. Mexico and other Central American countries to include visits to graveyards, where families decorate the sites of deceased loved ones.
...parts of the celebration, October 31st, November 1st, and finally November 2nd. On October 31st, it is seen that the kid’s souls return. November 1st is considered the adult’s day of returning, and November 2nd is when all souls have returned from the dead and there is a big celebration. People of Mexico celebrate by making many baked goods and cooking meals, making objects such as masks and decorating papers and toy coffins to prepare for the return of the souls.
In The Latino Holiday Book: From Cinco de Mayo to Dia de Los Muertos: The Celebrations and Traditions of Hispanic-Americans, by Valerie Menard, there are numerous traditions and celebrations for Latinos, most separated by the seasons. In the spring, there are the celebrations of renewal. During the first week of March, Cuban Americans celebrate Calle Ocho, a celebration similar to Mardi Gras. Named after the street called Little Havana, Miami, this celebration is reserved for salsa dancing to merengue and salsa music as well as eating and drinking before Lent, a tradition where one of the Christian faith sacrifices something for a month. While celebrated mostly by Cuban Americans, the ten-day celebration has a multicultural crowd from blacks to other Latinos.
... Religious Customs, History, Legends, and Symbols from around the World; Supplemented by a Bibliography and Lists of Christmas Web Sites and Associations. Detroit, Mich: Omnigraphics, 2003. Print.
What about other countries though? Is the Christmas season all about giving and receiving gifts? Are children in Spain rewarded by Santa with gifts and toys on Christmas Eve? In this essay we will look at what Christmas season means in Spain, and what traditions are prevalent in their culture. We will also look at the Christmas related traditions of Americans, and how those compare and contrast to those in Spain.
Today, “La Movida” is an interchangeable term for hedonistic partying. The spirit of the movement lives on in Madrid Malasaña neighborhood, the place La Movida was first born. Plaza Dos de Mayo and the surrounding area is frequented by people of all walks of life. Many nightlife premises play music that pays homage to the era.
“The origins of the Santiago Carnival go back to the end of the seventeenth century when processions would wind their way through the city streets celebrating the feast day of Santiago, the Patron Saint of the city.” Cuba Absolutely. “Carnival de Santiago de Cuba.” July 21-29, 2014. The Spanish would celebrate ST. James in their own way and then allowed the African slaves to celebrate it, they added their music and dances to the tradition. People then began seeing this tradition as a way to celebrate “el pueblo.” This mixed is was created how carnivals are celebrated in modern Cuba today. The Carnival dates were extended to celebrate other saints during the months of June, July and August and of course to party more. Different cities around Cuba chose what days they will celebrate it, they usually last a week long. Carnivals are full of life, lights and music. People spend the whole year preparing for this day. Dancers have to practice their choreographies, and groups of people have to prepare for the parade, they prepare for the order in which the Carnival goes and the people participating. The carnival starts with children parades, that time is dedicated to all the children. Following that are the walks, people walk and dance to the rhythm of the music and drums. They also do a commemoration to the Cuban heroes. Then the carousels start making their way in, it is very creative, making it perfect! They have different theme carousels with people dancing to the congas and the music. Street vendors also prepare for this celebration, which is a day of great compensation for them. Most of them sell “bocadito” which is sold a lot during carnival days, it is a ripped pork sandwich, and Cuban pizza which is homemade and it’s delicious! The party does not end when the carousel show is over, most kiosk, restaurants and bars are open for the after
A Cultural Event is an event relating to a particular culture. These events are held within cultures such as clans or tribes. These Cultural Events are aimed to help bring together the community in ways that express the beliefs, customs, and ethics shared within the culture. The term Culture can be broken down into an array of categories: Language, Social Activities, Interaction, Spirituality, Thought, and Arts & Sciences. This paper will give an in depth look into two highly publicized Cultural Events: Mardi Gras and Carnival Rio De Janiero.